Article induction system

ABSTRACT

A system for handling articles which are to be moved from a supporting surface to a receiving area comprising an article engaging paddle and associated drive means. The drive means comprise a conveyor for moving the paddle over the supporting surface with the paddle in article engaging position. The conveyor automatically locates the paddle out of article engaging position upon return movement of the paddle, and then brings the paddle into position for engaging a succeeding article on the supporting surface. The paddle is preferably pivotally connected relative to the conveyor and a cam is positioned for engaging the paddle just prior to its movement into article engaging position. This cam serves to maintain the end of the paddle within relatively small lateral limits whereby the paddle can be inserted into article engaging position without sacrificing space requirements in the construction. The provision of the paddle is particularly useful in systems employing high speed conveyors as the supporting surface since the paddle insures movement of articles along the conveyor even if the conveyor surface should slip beneath an article located thereon.

United States Patent [191 Harrison ARTICLE INDUCTION SYSTEM [75]Inventor: John Harrison, Lincolnwood, Ill.

[73] Assignee: The Spra-Con Company, Chicago,

22 Filed: Mar. 10, 1972 21 App]. No.: 233,596

52 U.S.Cl. ..19s/20,19s/24 51 Int. Cl. 865g 47/00 58 Field of Search..19s/221-225,

Primary ExaminerRichard E. Aegerter AttorneyMcDougall, Hersh & Scott[57] ABSTRACT A system for handling articles which are to be moved [4 1Dec. 4, 1973 from a supporting surface to a receiving area compris ingan article engaging paddle and associated drive means. The drive meanscomprise a conveyor for moving the paddle over the supporting surfacewith the paddle in article engaging position. The conveyor automaticallylocates the paddle out of article engaging position upon return movementof the paddle, and then brings the paddle into position for engaging asucceeding article on the supporting surface. The paddle is preferablypivotally connected relative to the conveyor and a cam is positioned forengaging the paddle just prior to its movement into article engagingposition. This cam serves to maintain the end of the paddle withinrelatively small lateral limits whereby the paddle can be insertedintoarticle engaging position without sacrificing spacerequirements in theconstruction. The provision of the paddle is particularly useful insystems employing high speed conveyors as the supporting surface sincethe paddle insures movement of articles along the convey-or even if theconveyor surface should slip beneath an article located thereon.

14 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures UJ UJT UUU B B U/ PATENTED DEC 4 I975SHEET 1 OF FIG. 1

rllli ai ELI; lILI 3,776,344 sum 20F PMENIEDHEE 4 m5 L W .l I I T N mzoNl m 1 ARTICLE INDUCTION SYSTEM This invention relates to a conveyorsystem and more particularly to means for efficiently handling articlesto be moved onto a conveyor. The invention is particularly directed tomeans which will load articles onto a conveyor or other receiving meansin a controlled and reliable fashion.

The use of conveyorswhich include automatic means for loading andunloading the conveyors is rapidly increasing. Furthermore, therequirement for high speed operation is more and more common and,accordingly, automatic systems which permit high speed operation must bedeveloped. One of the basic problems involved in such developments isthe handling of the articles in a fashion such that the articles willnot be damaged. Thus, articles cannot be moved onto a conveyor in amanner such that there will be any severe impact or tumbling of thearticles. This is particularly true where fragile articles are beingcontinuously handled or in applications such as post office operationswhere fragile articles are included in at least a significant part ofthe packages handled.

Attempts have been made to provide for manual loading of articles onconveyors; however, this technique is unsatisfactory since it severlylimits the speed of conveyor movement. The limitations of manual loadingare even more pronounced where automatic discharge of the articles isrequired. In such systems, endless conveyors move adjacent a pluralityof discharge stations located along the conveyor path. Articles areplaced on the conveyor at a loading station, and coding means areactuated at the same time. The articles will then be automaticallydischarged at a particular discharge location. It is naturally verydifficult for even a relatively skilled person to apply a code and loadan article on a particular conveyor area when the conveyor is moving atvery high speed.

Some mechanical systems have been proposed for loading articles ontomoving conveyors such as described, for example, in Harrison, et al.U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,333,677 and 3,339,699. These systems provide a tablelocated above the path of movement with pusher means being provided forsweeping articles off the table and onto moving conveyors. Otherarrangements are described in Harrison application Ser. No. 45,174,filed on June 9, 1970 and entitled Conveyor Loading System, nowabandoned, and in Harrison application Ser. No. 185,311, filed on Sept.30, 1971, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,693,776, and entitled Pusher Loading MeansFor Conveyors.

The Harrison applications describe a loading arrangement which providesfor the introduction of articles in a very efficient fashion from thestandpoint of achieving a high speed operation. Specifically, pushermeans for the articles are located at relatively widely spaced intervalsso that articles can be introduced be tween the pusher means withrelative ease even when the pusher means are moving very rapidly. Byusing separate sets of pusher means operating in timed sequence withconveyor carrying areas, all of the carrying areas on a conveyor can beefficiently loaded even though high speed induction means are not used.

In arrangements of the type described in the aforementioned Harrisonapplications, and in various other conveyor constructions, it isdesirable to provide automatic loading of articles so that manualefforts can be confined to coding or to other less demanding operations.Particularly in systems of the types described in the aforementionedapplications where high speed operation is involved, automatic loadingcan become complicated when articles of various weights and sizes areencountered. For example, if very thin and light articles, and evenlarger packages which are very light in weight, are encountered, a highspeed conveyor may slip beneath the articles whereby the articles willnot move to a receiving .area at the proper time. This can be seriouswhere articles have been coded and must be directed to a specificreceiving area moving adjacent the article induction means, thereceiving area being designated for the code.

It is a general object of this invention to provide an improved articleloading system for high speed conveyors.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide a loadingsystem for conveyor constructions which permits high speed operation ofa conveyor even where articles of widely differing sizes and weights arebeing handled.

These and other objects of this invention will appear hereinafter andfor purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, specificembodiments of the invention are I shown in the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of an article handling system includinginduction means characterized by the layouts for induction means of thetype contemplated by the invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic side elevational view illustrating conveyor meansand a pusher apparatus which may be utilized in conjunction with theinduction means of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a conveyor roll designsuitable for use in combination with induction means of the invention;

FIG.'5 is a plan view of a conveyor assembly as it appears inassociation with the induction means of the invention; I

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the assembly shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken about the line 77 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a plan view illustrating the paddle and associated supportingend carriage means employed in induction means contemplated by theinvention;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the induction mechanisms taken aboutthe line 99 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating carriage support meansand taken about the line l0-l0 of FIG. 1 l;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged vertical, sectional view taken about the linell-ll of FIG. 8;'

FIG. 12 is a plan view, partly cut away, of the structures shown in-FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the paddle con-' struction as itappears in association'with the article conveyor bed; I

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the paddleconstruction in association with the conveyor bed;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary illustration of a conveyor bed of thetype preferably employed in association with the induction meansof theinvention; and,

FIG. 16 is a schematic illustration of the drive sprocket arrangementpreferably utilized for a conveyor of the type shown in FIG. 15.

This invention generally relates to an induction system for use inconjunction with a conveyor. The system has varying applications,however, for purposes of illustration, the system will be described withreference to conveyors having a plurality of article carrying areas witha loading platform being positioned alongisde the path of conveyormovement. The invention provides for the movement of articles onto thesurface of the loading platform and then onto an article carrying area.

In the arrangements described in the aforementioned Harrisonapplications, the movement of the articles is accomplished by means ofpusher means which are supported on a separate conveyor. The pushermeans sweep over the platform surface and tracks guide the pusher meansangularly toward the conveyor after the pusher means have engaged anarticle. The pusher means may include an end paddle which closes afterengagement of an article so that the' article is cornered by the pushermeans to maintain the article in engagement with the pusher means untilthe article has been despoited on a conveyor. The speeds of the pushermeans and conveyor are synchronized so that the entire loading operationis carried out in a very gentle fashion with no abuse being applied toany articles even though the conveyor may be operating at very highspeed.

The system of the instant invention is generally related to means formoving articles from a supporting surface to a receiving area for thearticles. The system may have a variety of applications includingapplications involving the mere transfer of articles from one point toanother without any other conveyor mechanisms being involved. In theenvironment of the aforementioned applications, the system is useful formoving articles onto a platform surface over which pusher means aremoved. Thus, the mechanisms of this invention operate to accurately andefficiently locate articles relative to such pusher means so that theover-all conveyor system including the pusher means can be moreefficiently utilized.

The system of this invention particularly includes an article engagingpaddle which is movable over a supporting surface for articles. Thepaddle is mounted on conveyor means comprising an endless driven memberwhich moves the paddle means along an article engaging path and thenmoves the paddle means out of arti cle engaging position during a returnmovement of the paddle means so that the paddle means can be located forthe next article engaging movement. Thus, the conveyor repeatedly movesthe paddle means back and forth with one portion of the movement servingto move articles over the supporting surface.

The supporting structure for the paddle means is tied to the endlessdriven member, and a carriage is employed to provide a guide track forthe paddle support. Both the carriage and paddle support operate inreciprocal fashion relative to the supporting surface whereby thedesired back and forth movement for the paddle can be accomplished.

FIGS. 1 through 7 of the accompanying drawings illustrate an articlehandling construction including various conveyor means, andincorporating a system of the type contemplated by this invention. Afirst conveyor means includes a plurality of trays 10 adapted to receivearticles and to move articles past discharge locations along the path ofconveyor movement. Suitable systems for accomplishing discharge ofarticles are described or referred to in the aforementioned patents andapplications.

The conveyor trays follow a path of movement extending alongside aloading platform 12. This platform supports articles 14 which areengaged by pushers 16 for movement of the articles onto the conveyortrays. The pushers follow a path illustrated at 18 to accomplish thisdischarging action. As shown in FIG. 3, the pushers are supported on aconveyor 20 which moves the pushers in a continuous fashion over theplatform 12 and into position relative to the trays 10.

An induction system for delivering articles to the platform 12 includesa conveyor structure 22 with a standing platform 24 being provided forworkmen. The conveyor 22 may take various forms; however, a preferredstructure includes an arrangement of the type illustrated in FIGS. 4-7.This conveyor structure involves opposed angle supports 26 and 28 whichrotatably receive spindles 30. Drive sprockets 32 are mounted on theends of these spindles.

In ZONE N0. 1 illustrated in FIG. 6, a drive chain 34 operated by motor36 drives the sprockets. Additional drive chains 38, 40 and 42 aredriven by motors 44; 46 and 48, respectively.

:t, The spindles each carry article supporting discs 50 which may berubber discs to provide frictional engagement with the articles carriedon the conveyor. In the event rubber discs are used, metal disc members52 are located on either side of the rubber discs 50 to provide adequatesupport.

In the use of a conveyor such as shown in FIGS. 4 7, the operator mayload articles at the front of ZONE No. 1 without consideration of thespacing between articles. The articles may be in abutting relationship;however, the conveyor system is designed so that the articles willautomatically spread out as they are moved along the conveyor. This isaccomplished by decreasing the number of sprocket teeth in the sprocketsfrom the loading end of ZONE No. 1 to the end to the end adjacent ZONENo. 2. Since the peripheral speed of the discs will increase as thenumber of sprocket teeth decrease, greater speed will be imparted to thearticles as they move through ZONE No. l. The same sprocket design isemployed with respect to thesprockets in ZONE No. 2; however, in thisinstance. the motor 44 will drive the chain 38 faster than the motor 36drives the chain 34. Similarly, the motor 46 will drive the chain 40faster than the chain 38. An arrangement of this general type isdescribed in Stuller, et el. US. Pat. No. 3,202,263.

ZONE No. 3 of the conveyor 22 constitutes an induction means fordelivering articles to the platform 12. As illustrated particularly inFIGS. 5 and 6, the conveyor structure is essentially the same in ZONENo. 3 with the sprockets 32 being driven by chain 42 and motor 48. Inthe illustration of FIG. 1, the conveyor 22 is located perpendicular tothe platform 12; however, as illustrated in FIG. '2, conveyors 22 or'22"are suitable for use. In each instance, the ZONE No. 3 conveyor sectionserves to move articles onto the platform 12 irrespective of thedirection taken by these articles when moving to the induction means.There are other arrangements for the conveyors which are also feasibledepending upon the space available for a particular installation.

The induction system of the invention includes a paddle 54 carrying aplate 56 which serves as the engaging means for articles located on theconveyor surface. The paddle is welded to a supporting bracket 58 whichis connected to a movable support 60.

A pivotpin 62 (FIG. 11) is the principle means for securing the bracket58 to the movable support. This pivot pin is rotatable within a boredefined by the main body portion 64 of the movable support. A pair ofrollers 66 and 68 are rotatably positioned around the pivot A second pin70 is secured to the body on a 64, and the exposed portion of the pinlocated above the collar 72 is movable within a slot 74 defined by theplate 58. Accordingly, the plate 58 and associated paddle are adapted topivot relative to the body portion 64. A pair of rollers 76 and 78 aremounted on the pin 70,

The body portion 64 carries wheels 80 located at each corner thereof.The wheels 80 are confined between upper plate 82 and lower plate 84ofthe carriage assembly. These plates are held together by means of bolts86 and spacer collars 88. A pair of movable plates 90 and 92 are locatedon top of the upper plate 82, and the movable plates define slots 94which receive the bolts 86. The plates 90 and 92 are adjustable wherebythe upper rollers 66 and 76 of the paddle support can be accuratelyconfined between the inner edges of these movable plates. By providingan adjustable arrangement of this type, a smooth and stable movement ofthe support 60 relative to the track defined by the plates 90 and 92,can be accomplished.

The plates 82 and 84 and associated elements provide a carriage 85movable along rails 96 and 98 which extend parallel with the conveyor22. Downwardly extending flanges 100 and 102 are formed at the ends ofchain. This paddle support moves back and forth relative to the carriagealong the path defined between the adjustable plates 90 and 92.Accordingly, the paddle 54 is located in an article engaging positionwhen the sup port 60 moves along the closest flight of the chain, and isout of article engaging position when the support moves along thefarthest flight of the chain.

As noted above, the conveyor 22 is designed to move packages or otherarticles into ZONE No. 3 in spaced relation to each other. It isdesirable, however, to limit the space between the articles to providean operation of maximum efficiency. Accordingly, the system of thisinvention includes means which permit insertion of the paddle 54betweenpackages which are relatively close together.

Referring to FIGS 8 and 11, it will be noted that a stop element in theform of roller 120 is positioned on longitudinal support 121 forengaging the paddle 54 as the paddle moves rearwardly with the paddlesupport 60 moving along the lower flight of the drive chain. Because ofthe pivotal mounting of the paddle, the rearward movement of the paddleis limited by the roller 120 so that the paddle canmove between thepackages located on the conveyor 22 even though these packages arerelatively closely spaced. Thus, in the absence of the roller 120, thepaddle 54 would move well be from the next package. With the describedarrange ment, the end of the paddle 54 does not move into the openingdefined between the two packages until the paddle reaches theintermediate dotted line position shown in FIG. 8. As the conveyormovement continues,

. plate 58 pivots back to an upright position, this acplates 82, andthese flanges support rollers 104 which I ride on the hexagonal tracks96 and 98.

As best shown in FIG. 8, the conveyor side frame members 26 and 28 areconnected by means of transversely extending supports 106. In the areaof the paddle, these transverse supports extend outwardly to provide aconnection for a longitudinally extending sup port 108. A pair ofsprockets 110 and 112 are rotatably carried on this longitudinallyextending support, and a motor (not shown) is provided for driving oneof these sprockets.

An endless drive chain 114 is carried on the sprockets, and a yokeelement 116 (FIGS. 9 and 11) is attached to links of this chain.Accordingly, movement of the chain will create corresponding movement ofthe yoke element, and this element includes an upwardly extending shaft118 which ties the element to the main body portion 64 of the support60. As the drive chain moves, the support will, therefore, follow.

The connection between the drive chain 114 and support 60 createsmovement of the carriage 85 along the rails 96 and 98. Thus, the supportis permanently attached to the carriage, and any movement of the supportwill cause the carriage to move from right to left (FIG. 8) when thesupport moves along the flight of the chain closest to the conveyor andfrom left to right when the support moves along the flight farthest fromthe conveyor. Accordingly, a reciprocal movement is imparted to thecarriage 85 as long as the drivechain is operative.

The paddle support 60 is also continuously moving relative to thecarriage during operation of the drive tion minimizing the spacenecessary for penetration of the arm behind the more forwardly locatedpackage on the conveyor. The plate may be spring loaded at the pivot pin62 to insure the return pivoting movement of the plate and associatedpaddle.

The paddle 54 can, of course, be employed for moving packages onto aplatform 12 or to another receiving area. In the peferred use of thepaddle, however, it is utilized in conjunction with a conveyor such asshown in ZONE No. 3 where the conveyor discs accomplish a portion of,and in some instances, all of the conveying function. For example, incases where a relatively heavy package is involved, sufficient frictionwill develop between the package and the discs to move the packageforward rapidly without any assistance from the paddle. The discs 50 arepreferably rotated rapidly when moving articles onto the platform 12 sothat high speed operation of the pushers 16 will be possible.

The rapid movement of the discs 50 may, however, become a problem whenpackages are relatively light. Thus, the discs may slide relative to thepackages whereby the package will not move forward at the desired speed,and thus miss engagement with the proper pusher moving over the platform12. Since a destination code is often applied to packages in systems ofthis nature, this could lead to chronic misdirecting of lighterpackages.

With the paddle assembly of this invention, such' problems areeliminated. Thus, the paddle will engage each package at least to theextent necessary tos'tart the package moving sufficiently toenableengagement by the discs 50. In a typical embodiment of the invention,the operation of the paddle may be synchronized with the disc operationso that the speed of the paddle will approximate the peripheral speed ofthe discs. To accommodate very thin articles, a brush may be attached onthe underside of the paddle so that the article cannot slide beneath thepaddle.

ln constructions of the type involved, an electric eye may be locatedadjacent the front of ZONE No. 3 whereby packages will be stopped atthis point. The operation of the ZONE No. 3 conveyor will then dependupon movement of a pusher into position, the pusher then actuating theswitch or some other mechanism to initiate movement of the packagetoward the platform 12. In order to incorporate the system of thisinvention into an arrangement of that type, a switch may be lo catedadjacent the cam so that the paddle movement will be discontinued whenthat switch is engaged by the paddle. Operation of the paddle can thenbe initiated by the same mechanism which operates the ZONE No. 3conveyor so that the paddle will automatically move in behind a packagedestined for movement onto the platform 12.

-It will be understood that various changes and modifications may bemade in the above described invention without departing from'the spiritthereof, particularly as set forth in the following claims.

That which is claimed is:

1. In an article induction system wherein articles are moved from asupporting surface to a receiving area, the improvement comprising anarticle engaging paddle, and conveyor means connected to said paddlewhereby the paddle is movable over the supporting surface for engagingarticles for movement of the articles to the receiving area, saidconveyor means comprising an endless driven member and means for drivingsaid member, a paddle support tied to said member whereby said paddleand said support are moved by said driven member, a movable carriage,mounting means for the carriage positioning'the carriage adjacent saiddriven member, a track defined by said carriage, said support engagingsaid track whereby said carriage moves with the support, the carriagetrack at least assisting in controlling the position of the paddlerelative to said supporting surface.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said paddle is pivotallymounted on said carriage, a cam member mounted in the path of movementof said paddle for engaging the paddle and thereby pivoting the paddle,said cam member being positioned whereby the outer end of the paddle ismoved substantially directly inwardly over the supporting surface with aminimum of lateral displacement of said end relative to an articlelocated on the supporting surface.

3. A system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said paddle supportincludes a plate member, said paddle being connected to said platemember and said plate member being pivotally mounted to permit thepivotal movement of the paddle. v

4. A system in accordance with claim 3 wherein said support carries apivot pin for connecting the plate to the support, a second spaced-apartpin carried on said support, an elongated slot defined by said platereceiving said second pin, the combination of said slot and pindetermining the extent of pivoting movement of the plate and associatedpaddle.

5. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said endless drivenmember comprises a drive'chain movable in a horizontal plane, said chainhaving spacedapart flights moving parallel with each other and paralledto the direction of movement of said articles, the paddle support beingtied to a chain section and extending perpendicularly relative to saidflights, said paddle being located over said article supporting surfacewhen said chain section is located in the light closest to saidreceiving area whereby the paddle is in an article engaging position,and said paddle being located out of article engaging position when saidsection is located in the other flight during return movement of thepaddle.

6. A system in accordance with claim 5 wherein said paddle is pivotallymounted on said carriage, a cam member mounted in the path of movementof said paddle for engaging the paddle and thereby pivoting the paddle,said cam member being positioned whereby the outer end of the paddle ismoved substantially directly inwardly over the supporting surface with aminimum of lateral displacement of said end relative to an articlelocated on the supporting surface.

7. A system in accordance with claim 5 wherein said carriage mountingmeans comprise opposed rails positioned adjacent said flight andextending parallel thereto, said carriage moving in reciprocal fashionalong said rails as said paddle moves in and out of article engagingposition.

8. A system in accordance with claim 7 wherein the track defined by saidcarriage extends perpendicular to the path of movement of articles onsaid supporting surface, and wherein said paddle reciprocates relativeto said carriage into and out of article engaging positions.

9. A system in accordance with claim 8 including rollers mounted on saidpaddle support for engaging said track.

10. A system in accordance with claim 7 including rollers mounted onsaid carriage for engaging said rails.

l l. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said supporting surfacecomprises an article conveyor and including means for driving saidconveyor, said conveyor driving means driving the article conveyorsurface at a speed approximating the speed of said paddle whereby thespeed of articles on the conveyor surface will be maintained when anarticle slips relative to the conveyor surface.

12. A construction in accordance with claim 11 wherein the lower edge ofsaid paddle is positioned closely adjacent the surface of said articleconveyor when the paddle is in article engaging position.

13. A system in accordance with claim 11 wherein said means for drivingthe article conveyor impart a high speed to the conveyor wherebysignificant momentum is developed in articles located on the conveyor,said receiving area being characterized by movable article receivinglocations, and means for initiating the high speed driving means forsaid article conveyor responsive to movement of an article receivinglocation into position for receiving an article.

14. A system in accordance with claim 13 including means for stoppingthe operation of the drive means for said endless driven member whensaid paddle has been moved to a position such that further movementthereof will move the paddle over the article conveyor surface intoarticle engaging position, and means for reinstituting movement of saiddriven member and paddle upon operation of said means for initiating thehigh speed drive for said article conveyor.

* B i i 78

1. In an article induction system wherein articles are moved from asupporting surface to a receiving area, the improvement comprising anarticle engaging paddle, and conveyor means connected to said paddlewhereby the paddle is movable over the supporting surface for engagingarticles for movement of the articles to the receiving area, saidconveyor means comprising an endless driven member and means for drivingsaid member, a paddle support tied to said member whereby said paddleand said support are moved by said driven member, a movable carriage,mounting means for the Carriage positioning the carriage adjacent saiddriven member, a track defined by said carriage, said support engagingsaid track whereby said carriage moves with the support, the carriagetrack at least assisting in controlling the position of the paddlerelative to said supporting surface.
 2. A system in accordance withclaim 1 wherein said paddle is pivotally mounted on said carriage, a cammember mounted in the path of movement of said paddle for engaging thepaddle and thereby pivoting the paddle, said cam member being positionedwhereby the outer end of the paddle is moved substantially directlyinwardly over the supporting surface with a minimum of lateraldisplacement of said end relative to an article located on thesupporting surface.
 3. A system in accordance with claim 2 wherein saidpaddle support includes a plate member, said paddle being connected tosaid plate member and said plate member being pivotally mounted topermit the pivotal movement of the paddle.
 4. A system in accordancewith claim 3 wherein said support carries a pivot pin for connecting theplate to the support, a second spaced-apart pin carried on said support,an elongated slot defined by said plate receiving said second pin, thecombination of said slot and pin determining the extent of pivotingmovement of the plate and associated paddle.
 5. A system in accordancewith claim 1 wherein said endless driven member comprises a drive chainmovable in a horizontal plane, said chain having spaced-apart flightsmoving parallel with each other and paralled to the direction ofmovement of said articles, the paddle support being tied to a chainsection and extending perpendicularly relative to said flights, saidpaddle being located over said article supporting surface when saidchain section is located in the light closest to said receiving areawhereby the paddle is in an article engaging position, and said paddlebeing located out of article engaging position when said section islocated in the other flight during return movement of the paddle.
 6. Asystem in accordance with claim 5 wherein said paddle is pivotallymounted on said carriage, a cam member mounted in the path of movementof said paddle for engaging the paddle and thereby pivoting the paddle,said cam member being positioned whereby the outer end of the paddle ismoved substantially directly inwardly over the supporting surface with aminimum of lateral displacement of said end relative to an articlelocated on the supporting surface.
 7. A system in accordance with claim5 wherein said carriage mounting means comprise opposed rails positionedadjacent said flight and extending parallel thereto, said carriagemoving in reciprocal fashion along said rails as said paddle moves inand out of article engaging position.
 8. A system in accordance withclaim 7 wherein the track defined by said carriage extends perpendicularto the path of movement of articles on said supporting surface, andwherein said paddle reciprocates relative to said carriage into and outof article engaging positions.
 9. A system in accordance with claim 8including rollers mounted on said paddle support for engaging saidtrack.
 10. A system in accordance with claim 7 including rollers mountedon said carriage for engaging said rails.
 11. A system in accordancewith claim 1 wherein said supporting surface comprises an articleconveyor and including means for driving said conveyor, said conveyordriving means driving the article conveyor surface at a speedapproximating the speed of said paddle whereby the speed of articles onthe conveyor surface will be maintained when an article slips relativeto the conveyor surface.
 12. A construction in accordance with claim 11wherein the lower edge of said paddle is positioned closely adjacent thesurface of said article conveyor when the paddle is in article engagingposition.
 13. A system in accordance with claim 11 wherein said meansfor driving the article conveyor impart a high speed to the conveyorwhereby significant momentum is developed in articles located on theconveyor, said receiving area being characterized by movable articlereceiving locations, and means for initiating the high speed drivingmeans for said article conveyor responsive to movement of an articlereceiving location into position for receiving an article.
 14. A systemin accordance with claim 13 including means for stopping the operationof the drive means for said endless driven member when said paddle hasbeen moved to a position such that further movement thereof will movethe paddle over the article conveyor surface into article engagingposition, and means for reinstituting movement of said driven member andpaddle upon operation of said means for initiating the high speed drivefor said article conveyor.